Banjo.



UNITED STATES ATPElNT OFFTWE.

NOAH J. KOONTZ, OF JEFFERSON, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO WILLIAM FOWSHEE AND ONE-THIRD TO GEO. L. BALLANOE, OF STATESVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA.

BANJO.

Application filed December 19, 1908.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1909.

Serial No. tease-9.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NOAH J. KooNTz, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jefferson, in the county of Ashe and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Banjo, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to banjos, and it consists in the novel construction and arrangement of its parts, as hereinafter shown and described.

The object of the invention is to provide a musical instrument of the character indicated in which a head of special construction is employed. Said head consists primarily of an intermediate portion which is covered by parchment in the usual manner, and which is surrounded by a continuation of the neck which forms a resonator or sounding chamber, and which is adapted to amplify the sound of the instrument and improve the tone thereof.

With these and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the instrument consists in the special construction hereinafter pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a plan view of the banjo; Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the head thereof; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the head of the banjo. Fig. 4: is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the banjo-head.

The banjo consists of the neck 1, which is provided with the usual frets 2. The major portion of the head 3 is formed as a continuation of the neck 1 and consists of the anterior and posterior sides 1 and 5 respectively. The said sides 1 and 5 are provided with the sections 6 and 7, which form the upper and lower portions respectively of the base of the neck 1. The lower end of the neck 1 projects between the sides 4 and 5, and terminates at the wall 8, which is located between the sides 4 and 5 and is set back from the edges thereof. The said wall 8 is of circular configuration and is concentric with the wall 9 which is located within the wall 8 and is also attached at its edges to the sides 4 and 5.

The wall 9 is provided at intervals with the openings 10. The side 5 is provided with the openings 11 which communicate with the space inclosed by the wall 9. The parchment 12 is drawn over the upper edge of the wall 9 and is held by the ring 13 and wire 1 1 in the usual manner. The braces 15 pass transversely through the sides 5, and, at their upper ends, extend over the upper edge of the ring 13. The nuts 16 are screwthreaded upon the lower ends of the braces 15, and it is obvious that by tightening or turning the taps 16 the said braces 15 will be moved longitudinally, whereby the parchment 12 may be drawn taut over the upper edge of the wall 9/ The post 17 is interposed between the sides l and 5 and is substantially in alinement with the longitudinal aXis of the neck 1. The screw 18 passes transversely through the sides 1 and 5 and extends longitudinally through the post 17.

The tail-piece 19 is provided with a socket 20 which receives the upper end of the screw 18. The said tail-piece is provided with the usual string perforations 22, which receive the knotted ends of the strings 23. The bridge 24 is adapted to rest upon the parchment 12 and the strings 23 are seated in notches provided in the said bridge in the usual manner, and are attached at their ends opposite to those connected with the tailpiece 19 with the usual pegs 25.

From the above description it is obvious that when the strings 23 are sounded the parchment 12 will be set in vibration, as will also the posterior and anterior sides l and 5 of the head 3. The vibration of the said parts Will cause the air contained within the space between the sides 1 and 5 and the walls 8 and 9 to give off sound-waves which will emanate through the openings 10 and 11 and amplify the sound of the instrument. At the same time the tone of the instrument will be greatly improved.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure, by Letters Patent, is

1. A banjo comprising a neck piece, a head rigidly connected with the neck piece and consisting of anterior and posterior sides with intervening walls one located within the other, and a parchment stretched over the inner wall, said inner wall being provided with openings, and the posterior side having openings located within the said inner wall.

2. A banjo comprising a neck-piece, head attached to the neck-piece and consisting of anterior and posterior sides rigidly attached to the said neck-piece, walls interposed between the said sides and being located one Within the other, and a parchment stretched my ovm, I have hereto afiiXed my signature over 1the innefl Tall, braces passing traps in the presence of two Witnesses. verse y throu t 1e sides a ring enpa 'in t 1e U T parchment arid engaged by the bia ces? the KOOLTZ' 5 structure having perforations provided in the inner Wall and posterior side.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as Witnesses MANLEY BLEVINS, J. O. LISTERMAN. 

